Maybe there’s something in the water, or something in the wood. Secluded amongst the forests of Ulster County you’ll discover over two dozen master craftspeople sculpting lumber into functional art.
It’s easy to take this for granted in an IKEA world, but for most of human history, furniture was made entirely by hand.
A great many of our local woodworkers still use traditional techniques and tools that have stood the test of time over centuries. Some are eager to embrace modern technology. Others playfully mix and match styles to create their own unique vision of utility and beauty.
These woodworkers could equally be described as artists or sculptors. One can be awestruck by the expressiveness of their works. “Chair” and “table” seem vulgar terms when met with the attractiveness of this custom-made furniture. These pieces are undeniably works of art, and you get to sit in the frame.
When a critical mass of artists gathers in one place, a scene forms—and with it, trends emerge.
Use of so-called “live-edge” wood has been a hallmark of several local furniture artisans. This design style uses a wood plank’s natural edge to create an organic and unpredictable silhouette, evoking nature in all its chaos. These slab-style creations can even use the wood’s uneven grain, knots and other imperfections to its aesthetic advantage.
There’s an air of Japanese Wabi-Sabi design, which celebrates cracks, weathering, and natural texture — often influencing minimalist, handcrafted furniture. Butterfly connectors and other joinery — both functional and decorative — are a popular feature in custom woodworking around here, stabilizing cracks while showcasing craftsmanship.
Ethical sourcing has been a lasting priority in the custom woodworking community. Reclaimed and vintage wood remain in high demand for their sustainability, character and even provenance.
Mid-century modern furniture is hot right now – just take a look at the price tags in any vintage or antique store. Some local woodworkers have echoes of mid-century modern design, and these influences are often elevated to more dramatic heights with advanced techniques and constructions.
Craftsmanship at this level has a price, but when you consider how long you’ll be using the furniture – for the rest of your life, perhaps – those who can afford it are happy to splurge on these bespoke and breathtaking focal points in home design.
Below is a collection of Ulster County’s finest craftspeople when it comes to transforming a tree into art you’ll use every day. With so many around, it’s likely we missed a few, but these 23 shops should give you a good place to start.
Steve Heller – Fabulous Furniture
Heller is perhaps the most high-profile furniture designer in the area thanks to his classic automobile-inspired sculptures showcased like a roadside attraction on Route 28 in Boiceville. Longtime Kingston residents will remember his dinosaur made of welded chain which pre-second traffic circle used to bet at the end of Colonel Chandler Drive.
Heller’s vintage car-meets-spaceship aesthetic has received attention from The New York Times to Atlas Obscura. His furniture is a fun-loving blend of rustic and retro-modern.
Cabinet Designers
https://www.cabinetdesigners.com
This family-run firm has been around for over 30 years, specializing in custom kitchen and bath solutions that reflect each client’s style and needs. Their 6000-square-foot showroom on Route 28 in Kingston showcases a diverse range of high-quality cabinetry, countertops and accessories. Itsstyle tends toward the bold, modern and minimalist, often with a touch of rustic charm, and it caters to all types of clients.
Stephen Robin Woodworking
https://www.stephenrobinwoodworking.com
This Woodstock workshop is known for its custom furniture, cabinetry, and architectural woodwork. Robin, a master craftsman working since 1966, blends traditional techniques with modern tools like a CNC router funded by a federal grant. Their team’s stunning high-end craftsmanship has been featured in institutions like the Brooklyn Museum.
Vernacular Design
https://www.vernaculardesignco.com/
Kingston-based Vernacular Design Co. is a full-service woodworking studio specializing in custom cabinetry, furniture and architectural millwork. Founded by Jack Decker, the company serves clients across the Hudson Valley and the greater New York metro area, plus Connecticut and Massachusetts. Modern meets traditional here, and designs range from playful to luxurious.
Rosado Works
Luis Rosado, who specializes in handcrafted furniture, fabrication and restoration, leads this High Falls studio. The studio emphasizes traditional joinery techniques and the use of locally sourced materials. The work gives nods to antique and vintage styles while remaining modern and fresh.
Rowan Woodwork
https://www.rowanwoodwork.com/
Founded in 2014 by Suzanne Walton, a skilled woodworker from northern England with a background in furniture restoration, this studio is a certified green business and a certified woman-owned enterprise. Operating out of a retrofitted 10,000-square-foot former auto-body shop, Rowan Woodwork emphasizes design-led, modern cabinetry and furniture that blends traditional techniques with contemporary aesthetics and a strong sense of dimension.
Bare Furniture Corp.
https://www.barefurnitureny.com/
In a world of glossy finishes, naked furniture has a unique appeal that echoes our area’s natural beauty. Accord’s family-run, unfinished wood-furniture experts have been crafting since 1986. Bare Furniture is deeply rooted in the Hudson Valley’s woodworking tradition, and its use of unique woods and techniques to achieve an organic yet modern look is what sets it apart.
Woodstock CNC Woodworking
Founded in 2019 by Matthew Medenbach in Woodstock, the name says it all. These folks are CNC woodworking and milling professionals. Masters of custom built-ins and unique projects, they emphasize precision and personalization in their designs. Their portfolio showcases a range of work, from epoxy river tables to intricately decorative cabinetry. They offer bespoke solutions embraced by many local clients.
Catskill Woodworking
https://catskillwoodworking.com/
This high-end architectural millwork firm based in Kingston, was, established in 1991 by self-taught woodworker Robert Allen. The company specializes in custom woodwork, including doors, moldings, cabinets, wall units, vanities, and trims. It primarily serves architects and contractors. Operating from a 40,000-square-foot workshop, it works with a variety of woods and exotic materials.
Found & Fixed Hudson Valley
https://www.foundandfixedhv.com/
This Highland operation was founded in 2022 with the mission of saving furniture from the landfill by transforming it into something new. It repairs, refinishes and repaints wood furniture that’s worn or damaged, typically using sustainable, eco-friendly products. Its co-op model allows the whole team a chance to bring new life to pieces that would have otherwise been thrifted or trashed.
Nick Brown Woodworking
https://www.nbwoodworking.com/
Since 1984, this woodworker has been making custom cabinetry, furniture and millwork for clients across the region. With over 30 years of experience, Nick began as a teenage apprentice and developed expertise in traditional woodworking techniques like mortise and tenon joinery and hand-cut dovetails. His work often involves period restoration and high-quality craftsmanship for clients including interior designers, architects and homeowners.
Pacama Handmade
This furniture design studio was founded in 2013 by Cedric Martin, who was raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and draws on his Mennonite heritage in his work, which began in high school. He trained at The Center for Furniture Craftsmanship and North Bennett Street School before launching Pacama Handmade. The studio’s design style is playful and artful, subtle and organic, with nods to mid-century-modern aesthetics.
Odd Numbers Studio
Andrew Patterson founded this whimsical, minimalist and modern woodworking operation in 2020. He focuses on using sustainable practices and materials with a simple yet elegant approach that keeps pieces affordable.
Gustav Pedersen
Gustav Pedersen is a skilled custom-furniture designer and builder based in Saugerties. Known for blending clean, modern materials like glass and steel with the natural beauty of wood, Gus draws on a deep respect for wood’s organic textures and grain patterns in creating sophisticated pieces for both residential and commercial clients. Active in the Hudson Valley arts community, Gus also produces impressive sculptures and marquetry.
Black Creek Mercantile & Training Co.
Joshua Vogel founded his Kingston workshop after years in the furniture and interiors industry, aiming to return to hands-on craftsmanship through small-scale product design and manufacturing. The studio promotes a collaborative environment where employees are encouraged to learn, create, and grow together through a shared commitment to excellence. The result is artful and organic.
New York Heartwoods
https://www.instagram.com/newyorkheartwoods/
Rustic and folksy yet modern and clean – these are the hallmarks of New York Heartwoods furniture. Founded in 2011 as a lumber mill repurposing storm-damaged wood, the company evolved to include furniture fabrication and consulting, eventually shifting last year to focus entirely on coordinating with a network of mills, kilns and fabricators to integrate reclaimed wood into residential, commercial and artistic projects.
Daniel Stern Woodworking
https://dalesbridge.com/dsfurniture
Daniel Stern is a master woodworker with a penchant for designing furniture that features dramatic lines, and organic, grain-forward surfaces. Somehow he also finds time to hand-make exquisite electric guitars.
Traditional Techniques
These local woodworking pros use – surprise, surprise – traditional techniques and tools in their work, producing pieces that honor the craftsmanship of yesteryear. Staircases, cabinets and other custom installations are their specialty when it comes to indoor areas, but they’re also big on reclaimed wood and are specialists in barn-raising.
Josh Finn
https://www.joshfinnfurniture.com/
Since 1995, this shop has drawn inspiration from natural forms and traditional craftsmanship. When he’s not designing enduring, wood-centered furniture, Josh Finn is leading boat-building classes locally. His creative furniture embraces curving lines and sturdy shapes.
Rob Hare
http://www.robhare-furnituremaker.com/
Rob Hare has had a lifelong passion for making art and sculpture, so when he gets to furniture making, expect the artistry to flow. His work differs from many of the other more wood-centric makers on this list in that he truly embraces metalwork. His pieces balance intricate metalwork with expertly-crafted wood in a dance of form.
Andrew Hunter
https://www.instagram.com/andrewhunter_furniture/
Accord-based Andrew Hunter has earned national recognition for his Eastern-inspired furniture design and his role as an educator in the craft. His mastery of Japanese and Chinese techniques and tools has made him a widely sought-after woodworker.
Michael Leggett
Bespoke custom work meets a diverse array of influences in Michael Leggett’s furniture. The Woodstock woodworker’s pieces are elegant and clean, with exacting detail in its wood grain and joinery. These are high-end pieces that showcase myriad techniques for one-of-a-kind visual appeal.
Braxton Alexander
https://www.braxton-alexander.com/
This woodworker has been crafting for over 20 years, starting in architectural woodturning and honing skills across specialty shops. He blends traditional and modern techniques, creating furniture and cabinetry with efficient, thoughtful joinery.
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